Methods for disaggregating nanodiamond clusters, for example, by using sonication to break apart nanodiamond aggregates in an aqueous slurry having an alkaline pH. Compositions, such as aqueous nanodiamond dispersions and dry particulate compositions can be produced using these methods.

A method of preparing bismuth vanadate particles is described. The bismuth vanadate particles prepared via ultrasonication and hydrothermal treatment exhibit controlled morphology (e.g., octahedral shape) and crystallinity (e.g., tetragonal crystal symmetry). A photoelectrode containing bismuth vanadate particles and a method of using the photoelectrode in a photoelectrochemical cell for water splitting is also provided.

Highly heat-resistant anatase-type titanium oxide particles stably retard an anatase-type crystal phase having excellent reactivity in a temperature range of 700° C., and have fine particles and a uniform particle size distribution. The highly heat-resistant anatase-type titanium oxide includes titanium oxide particles having a content of an anatase crystal phase in the total crystal phases of 85% or more and a modification layer provided on the surfaces of the titanium oxide particles. The modification layer is obtained by modifying an organic acid having a molecular weight of 200 or less with an acidic solution containing 1.5×10.sup.−4 mol/L or more and 0.12 mol/L or less. The pH of the acidic solution is 0.2 to 5.

A method is provided for producing an article which is transparent to near-wave IR, mid-wave and Long-wave multi-spectral and IR wavelength in the region of 0.4 μm to 16 μm. The method includes the steps of (a) Producing ultra-fine powder of CaLa.sub.2S.sub.4 via SPLTS process, (b) followed by pretreatment of the ultra-fine powder under inert and reducing gas conditions including H.sub.2 or Argon or N.sub.2 or H.sub.2/H.sub.2S, H.sub.2S, and mixtures there of (c) followed by sieving the powder in 140 mesh screen and cold pressing the powder at 7000 psi for 7 min. into a disk shaped green body (d) then Cold-Isostatic Pressing (CIP) at 40,000 psi for 5 min in a rubber mold (e) finally sintered article of CaLa.sub.2S.sub.4 disk of 25.4 mm diameter with ultra-high density containing cubic phase of CaLa.sub.2S.sub.4 to yield IR transmission of a peak value of 57% within the IR wavelength range of 2 μm to 16 μm, either by using microwave sintering followed by hot isostatic press or spark plasma sintering followed by hot isostatic press or vacuum sintering at (3×10.sup.−6 torr) followed by hot isostatic press or hot press sintering followed by hot isostatic press and finally followed by mirror polished IR article, is obtained.

Preparation of two-dimensional indium selenide, other two-dimensional materials and related compositions via surfactant-free deoxygenated co-solvent systems.

The present application is directed to methods for solvent-free preparation of polymers and their subsequent processing into activated carbon materials. These methods unexpectedly demonstrate ability to tune pore structure in the polymer gel and carbon produced there from, while also providing distinct advantages over the current art.

The present invention relates to lithium rechargeable battery cathode materials. More specifically, the cathode materials are compositionally gradient nickel-rich cathode materials produced using single-source composite precursor materials containing inorganic and/or metalorganic salts of lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt. Methods and systems for manufacturing the cathode materials by a combined spray pyrolysis/fluidized bed process are also disclosed.

An efficient green method for the synthesis of noble metal/transition metal oxide nanocomposite comprising reducing noble metal salt and a templating metal oxide is disclosed. The method is a one-step method comprises mixing coffee seed husk extract, a noble metal precursor, and a transition metal precursor; and filtering and drying the nanocomposite. The nanocomposite prepared by the method of the invention displays all the characteristics and biocidal activity of a composite prepared by traditional methods.

A composite nanomaterial of ZnO impregnated by, e.g., a green copper phthalocyanine compound (CuPc) can be an efficient solar light photocatalyst for water remediation. The composite may include hollow shell microspheres and hollow nanospheres of CuPc-ZnO. CuPc may function as a templating and/or structure modifying agent, e.g., for forming hollow microspheres and/or nanospheres of ZnO particles. The composite can photocatalyze the degradation of organic pollutants such as crystal violet (CV) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid as well as microbes in water under solar light irradiation. The ZnO—CuPc composite can be stable and recyclable under solar irradiation.

An electrode material for a lithium ion secondary battery and method of forming the same, the electrode material including composite particles, each composite particle including: a primary particle including an electrochemically active material; and an envelope disposed on the surface of the primary particle. The envelope includes turbostratic carbon having a Raman spectrum having: a D band having a peak intensity (I.sub.D) at wave number between 1330 cm.sup.-1 and 1360 cW.sup.-1; a G band having a peak intensity (I.sub.G) at wave number between 1530 cm.sup.-1 and 1580 cm.sup.-1; and a 2D band having a peak intensity (I.sub.2D) at wave number between 2650 cm.sup.-1 and 2750 cm.sup.-1. In one embodiment, a ratio of I.sub.D/I.sub.G ranges from greater than zero to about 1.1, and a ratio of 1.sub.2D/I.sub.G ranges from about 0.4 to about 2.